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A GUIDE TO VIEWING 

IVER  ERRING IN 

COASTAL MASSACHUSETTS

Each spring,millions of river

herring migrate

into Massachusetts’coastal waters to

begin their annual

trek up dozens ofour coastal streams

and rivers. Theyare returning to the

place of their birth,

to spawn and create a new generation of river herring. These determined t ravelers face many challen ges along

their spawning runs. Dried up river beds and voracious

predators like striped bass, bluesh, cormorants, and ofcourse, humans, impede their progress and reduce their

numbers. Dams and steep elevation changes completely

block their passage in many streams. The river herring arehelped around these barriers by man-made sh ladders.

Fish congregate and cue up for a chance to ght thecurrent, rush up the ladders, and continue on with their

journey. This behavior creates an amazing spectacle that

attracts thousands of visitors each year.

 Take your friends and famil y out on the next beautiful

spring day and enjoy this spectacle provided by MotherNature! This pamphlet provides location and viewing

dates for several of our most impressive and accessible

river herring runs. Check the map on the back page ofthis publication for more informatio .

arne s e r e s sa an o ca voune er s a s way on e ar e s ver

n Newton, MA, where MarineFisheries repaired a sh ladder in time for the2005 spring Herring run.

About River Herring

How Can You Help?

l o s a p s e u o a r e n

 The freshwater stage is the ti me in a river

 when humans can have a great i mpact. Obstrupassage such as dams and road culverts can bloupstream progress and prevent them from reac

spawning habitat. Water withdrawals due to pu

and agricultural practices can have a negative iherring, preventing upstream migration or stra

trying to get out of a system. Pollution is also a

problem. Poor water quality affects river herrinfrom developing eggs to adults. Finally, over-h

shery or poaching can remove too many adul

reducing the number of sh successfully repro

 There are a number of ways that the publicinvolved in conserving the river herring popul

ladders should be included in all dam structure

located in herring streams. These ladders must

clean and functioning so the sh can keep retuspring. Dams that are old and outdated, are sa

that are no longer necessary should be removepractices should be required to allow for the pa

herring, both during the spring upstream migr

the late summer and fall juvenile out-migration withdrawals should be m anaged wit h river her

and water conservation should be practiced at Concerned citizens can become involved by at

government meetings, by advocating responsib

of the river herring resource, and especially bythemselves and others about the biology and re

for a healthy river herring run. For more info

and a survey of all anadromous sh passages inMassachusetts, visit www.mass.gov

publications/technical.htm for

echnical reports, TR-15, 16,

We urge you to report a activity an van a ism t

aut orities an t e Massac Environmental Police (800-6

 Two species of sh in coastal Massachusetts are

collectively referred to as “river herring.” They are

the alewife (  Alosa pseudoharengus   ) and the blueback

herring (  Alosa aestivalis 

 ). They are very

similar in appearance and both species are

anadromous, meaning they are born in freshwater,spend the majority of their lives in the ocean, and

return to freshwater to spawn. Mature river herringundertake an upriver spawning migration in the

spring. In Massachusetts waters, alewives spawn

in late March to mid-May when water temperaturereaches about 51ºF. Blueback herring spawn later

in the spring (late April through June), when water

temperature reaches about 57ºF.

River herring are an important component of

a healthy coastal and riverine ecosystem. There areover 100 separate river herring runs throughout

the Commonwealth. Many of these runs have seen

a decline in the herring population in recent years. MarineFisheries  collects data on the population status

in these key runs to guide management decisionsregarding regulations. These regulations are

important to help sustain the herring population in

coastal Massachusetts.

Herring runs may be under the direct controlof the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries(  MarineFisheries 

 ), or they may be under the control of

local town government (with MarineFisheries  oversight).

Contact your town to nd out if they are responsiblefor the management of the herring resource. If the

town has control, they will be able to provide you with information rega rding har vest regulations and

permitting. Otherwise, contact MarineFisheries

for state regulations (http://www.mass.gov/marinesheries).

What Happens?

A l o s a a e s t i v a l i s  blueback herring 

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 Woolen Mill Dam and Fishway – Parker River – Newbury  This is a relatively small run (cur rently under 10,000

erring) ut i t is one o t e ew on t e ort ore t atis accessible for viewing. T he shway is located just a

hort distance off the side of Central Street at the WoolenMill Dam. Parking is difcult so this site may not beideal for large groups. The Woolen Mill Dam is the rstf six dams on the Parker River and each one is provided

 wit a s way to provi e passage to t e ea waters inentucket Pond.

Location: Central Street at Parker River, near intersection withOrchard Street.Viewing Dates: April 15 – May 15 

atertown am an is way – ares iver – atertown

e ar es iver supports one o t e argestblueback herring runs in the Commonwealth and is beingused as a donor population for restoration efforts in the

Neponset and Ipswich Rivers. The Watertown Dam isthe second of numerous dams located along the length ofthe Charles River, and extensive efforts by MarineFisheries an ot er agencies ave een ma e to provi e access to

upstream spawning habitat. Fish passage is now providedt each dam up to river mile 20.ocation: Department of Conservation & Recreation – Riverront Park off California Street 

Viewing Date s: May 15 – June 15 

ackson Square Dam and Fishway - Back River-WeymouthLocated in Weymouth’s historic district (Jackson

Square), the herring run has played an important role inthe city’s history as the herring was both a prized and

rotected resource. The new shway is a weir-pool design

uilt in the 1990’s by MarineFisheries . The run begins atit ma n s o n , a n o ws t roug a n un e r t e ron

Hill area, passing under Commercial Square. It ows

past the town incinerator, into Back River and out to sea.Location: Intersection of High Street, Water Street and PleasantStreet, East Weymouth Viewing Dates: April 20 – May 15 

 Jenny Grist Mill Dam and Fishway – Town Brook – Plymouth This stream has been the subject of an ongoing restoration effort involving local, state and Federal agencies. A notched weir-pool shway,

hat operates at Jenny Grist Mill, facilitates the passage of river herring past the mill. To date this program has resulted inimprovements to one shway, adult stocking in the headwater pond and removal of a n impassable dam. In addition toiver herring, smelt and smelt eggs have been observed in the lower reaches of the brook.

ocation: pring ane o ummer treet ( owntown lymouth iewing ates: April – ay

 Wareham Street Dam and Fishway – Nemasket River – Middleboro

 The Nemasket River supports the largest river herring ru n in Massachusetts. Estimates based on visual

ounts by volunteers have consistently exceeded one million sh per year. The pr imary reason for the largeize of this run is the availability of over 5,000 acres of spawning and nursery habitat in the upper reaches

t e emas et iver. e s way at are am treet is a arge weir-poo a er t at was esignend constructed by MarineFisheries  1996. The Nemasket River shery is managed jointly by t he towns of

Lakeville and Middleborough through their herring committee.Location: Wareham Street off Route 105 (Main Street) – downtown MiddleboroViewing Dates: April 1 – May 2 

Mill Pond Dam and Fishway – Agawam River – WarehamSince 1632, the Agawam system supports a very pr oductive

river herring shery largely due to the more than 500 acresof spawning and nursery habitat available in its ponds andimpoundments. In addition to the river herring, the Agawam

iver a so supports a sma rain ow smet popuation, an inrecent years numbers of gizzard sha d have been observed. The

smelt spawn below the rst dam to above the head of the tide. American shad have also been taken at the catching station at Rt.6 during operation of the herring shery.Location: The Elks Club lot off Route 6/28 West below Mill Pond 

iewing ates: April – ay

Monument River Fishway – Monument River – Bourneda le This system supports one of the Commonwealth’s most

productive river herring populations. DMF has monitoredthis run for over 20 years using electronic and visual counts toestimate popuation s ize, w ic as range rom 1, s in1980 to 672,000 in 2000. Because of its size and accessibility,this population is the primary source of mature adult alewivesfor MarineFisheries’s stocking program. The construction of

the canal inhibited upstream access by intercepting the streamsnatural channel. A series of weir-pool and notched weir-poolshways, which are integrated within the stream’s articialc anne , a ows river erring to migrate upriver to spawning sites

in Bourne and Plymouth.Location: Route 6/28 (Scenic Highway north side of Cape Cod Canal) atthe Army Corps of Engineers comfort station Viewing Dates: April 20 – May 30

ower i on am an is way – tony roo - rewsterStoney Brook has long been one of the Commonwealth’s

most popular herring runs. The annual migration of river

herring up this stream attracts numerous Cape Cod touristsevery year. A series of connected weir-pool shways and stone

bafes allow the sh to surmount a natural elevation change andmill pond dam, enabling them to reach the 386 acres available inthe headwater ponds. This run was described in great detail by John Hay in his book “The Run.”

Location: Next to Thomas Prence Grist Mill (intersection of Stony BrookRoad and Setucket Pond)Viewing Dates: April 15 – May 20

ewie roo – ssex

 Alewife Brook ows from Chebacco Lake into the EssexRiver. Chebacco Lake provides 206 potential acres of spawninghabitat for alewives. It is one of the few river herring runs inMassachusetts that is not impeded by man-made dams. However,

in recent years, beavers have constructed dams near the outleto e acco a e, t us sometimes impe ing access to t islarge potential spawning area. This run is best viewed from the

bridge on Apple Street. Parking is limited so this site may not beappropriate for large groups.

Location: Apple Street bridge located just off Route 22 in Essex Viewing Dates: April 15 – May 20

Many areas have dedicated volunteer groups whore very knowledgeable about the watershed and

sheries. These groups make many contributiononservation of anadromous sheries by increas

 wareness of the resources and by conducting n ot er ata gat ering an restoration activiti

involved with the activities of your loca l watersh

ounting groups. The following is a list of herringroups in your local area:

orth ShoreEssex River – Eight Towns and a Bay (www.8tb.org)Ipswich River – Ipswich River Watershed Association

(www.ipswichriver.org)

Little River – Massachusetts Audubon Society

(www.massaudubon.org)

Merrimack River – Lowell Land Trust (www.lowelllandParker River – Parker River Clean Water Association

iver.org)

oston Areaharles River – Charles River Watershed Association

(www.charlesriver.org)

Mystic River – Mystic River Watershed Association

(www.mysticriver.org)

Neponset River – Neponset River Watershed Associa( www.neponset.org)

augus River – Saugus River Watershed Council

(www.saugusriver.org)

outh ShoreBuzzards Bay watershed – Coalition for Buzzards Ba

(www.savebuzzardsbay.org)

ones River – Jones River Watershed Association (wwMattapoisett & Sippican Rivers – Alewives Anonymo(www.plumblibrary.com/alewives.html)

Nemasket River – Lakeville/Middleboro Herring Co

 Town Hall, 340 Bedford Street, Lakeville, M A 02347

North & South Rivers – North and South Rivers Wa

 Association (www.nsrwa.org) Taunton River – Taunton River Watershed Alliance

(www.trwaonline.org)

Cape CodFalmouth Fisherman’s Association – ATTN: Mr. Lou

yster Pond Road, Falmouth, MA 02540

Division of Marine Fisheries 

251 Causeway Street, Suite 400

Boston, MA 02114

17.626.1520

Web site: w ww.mass.gov/dfwele/dmf/index.html 

Who You Can Contact!

rochur

Production of this brochure wby contributions from the

Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, IncContractors through th

Corporate Wetlands Restorat